Sucker rod stripper



Aug. 31, 1943. c. s. CRICKMER SUCKER ROD STRIPPER Filed May 2, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 1 1, 1943. cfs. CRICKMER Y Y ,328,127

SUCKER ROD STRIPPER Filed May 2 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C/za r/es S.CP/ckmer Patented Aug. 31, 1943 UNITED" STATES PATENT E'QFFICE sUcKEanon srmrrnn Char-less. Crickmer, Dallas, Tex. Application May 2, 1941, sriaiNoissrrs'zj 4 Claims. (61. 286-16) This invention relates to newandusef ul im provements in sucker rodstrippers,

One object of the invention is to provide an improved sucker rodstripper having flexible means for frictionally engaging the pump orsucker rods to remove the oil or well liquid there-e irom as the sameare withdrawn from the well tubing, whereby said rods are cleansed andun-, due waste of the well liquid is prevented.

, An important object of the invention is to provide an improved suckerrod stripper having a fleqiible stripping element of relatively simpleand inexpensive construction reinovably supported therein, ,whereby theelementmay readily removed andreplaced economically when the samebecomes worn.

Another object of the invention is to; provide a sucker ,rod stripperhaving an improved annular stripping elementfof resilient materialwlnchdsinolded or otherwise permanently secured within a housing andwhich has its bore of a diameter slightly less than the outer diameterof the sucker rods so as to snugly, engage and scrape oil from the same,the element and housing providing an inexpensive unit which may beentirelywdiscarded when the element becomes worn. i

A particularobject of the inventionisto pro vide an improved strippingelement, oirthe char aeter described, having grooves i'ormed in itsupper and lower surfaces for increasing the flex ibility thereof,wherebythe passage of couplings or tool joints therethrough isiacilitated.

, A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sucker rodstripper, of the character described, whereinthe stripping elementriscomposed oi a pair of semiecircular resilient segments and each segmentis molded withinone of the semi-cylindricalysections of a housing,

7 whereby the stripper may be readily installed in sections forsupporting the stripping element, the sections being pivotally orremovably connected together so as to permit the removal of said elementfrom the housing and also to facilitate positioning of the housingaround saidrods, aswell with other features of the invention. 1

as removal therefrom, when said" sections are swung or separated. 1 Q, da r The construction designed to carry out the invention will behereinafter described together The invention will be more readilyunderstood from a reading of the following specification and byreference to the accompanying drawings, as an example of the, inventionis shown, and wherein; Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical, sectionalview of a sucker rod stripper, constructed in accordance with theinvention, Figure 2,is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing a couplingof the suckerrodpass ing through the strippingelementoi the stripper,

Figure 3 is a, horizontal, cross-sectionalview,

taken on the line ii 3 01 Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a transverse; vertical, sectional view, showing a modifiedform of stripping ele ment,: h w,

Figure5 is a plan view of the stripper shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified f orm of strippingelement, j f

,Figure 7 is ,a view similar toFigure 1, showing a plurality ofstripping elements molded within a nipple, d d Figure 8 is a view,,partly in elevation and partly in section, of another form of stripperhavingaslightly modified form of stripper element mounted therein,-

, Figure 9 is a plan view of thestripper shown in Figure 8, i

Figure 10 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the lineilk-Lot Figure 8, and

Figure 11 is'a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken: on the line li-l Iof Figure 8. p

the drawings, the numeral I0 designates an upright cylindrioalbody ,ornipple which has its lower end externally screw-threaded as shown at I]so that it maybe connected to theupper end of a well tubing ljbyasuitable coupling collar l3, The bore, of theinippleis of a diametersubstantially equal to the bore of the tubing and communicates withthesame. Although the nipple may be cylindrical it is preferable.hmsplit the same diametricallyso as to providecomplementarysemi-cylindricalsections l1 (Figure 3).

stripping element 18a is disposed within the bore of the nipple I0adjacent its upper end. The element may be composed ofan annular disk,but it i preferably iormedxof, a pair of .by' the inner periphery ofsaid collar.

semi-circular segments I8, of rubber, neoprene,

. or other suitable resilient material, which sec- I tions co-act toprovide a resilient collar or ring. The external diameter of the collaris substantially equal to the diameter of the nipple bore I4, wherebythe external periphery of saidcollar snugly engages the wall of saidbore. The collar is relatively thick and one segment thereof is securedwithin each nipple section I! by having its external arcuate "surfacebonded, molded or otherwise fastened, to the inner wall of itsrespective section. An arcuate lip I9 is made integral with each of theupper and lower faces of each segment at their outer or marginal edgesso as to provide an amplified bonding surface for reinforcing thesegments. The inner surfaces of collar.

, grooves or channels 23 may be formed in the upper and lower faces ofthe collar as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The provision of these grooveswill more readily permit or facilitate flexing of the lips I9- arecurved or arced inwardly, whereby said lips form a continuationof theupper and" lower faces of the segments. It is preferable that innerarcuatesur'faces' of the segments; be equal to or slightly less than thediameter of therods I5 which extend therethrough,"whe'reby said diskwill frictionally engage saidrods. 7 During themolding of the segmentsIE, it has beenfound practicable to'form' an integral lip or projection2 I on the vertical edgesof each section I! at the same time. This isdone by permitting a small portion of the rubben'or other material used,to escape from the mold (not shown) and flow onto the vertical edges ofeach section to which it adheres. The lips 2| extend throughout thelength of the edges'of th'e 'segment's It and are relativelythin orfilm-like, whereby the same will fill the space of the material removedby splitting the nipple and will co-act to seal off the joint betweenthe abutting surfaces of thesections when the same are brought togetherin op- Wardly. Thus, the abutting end surfaces of the segments will'becomplementary and will co-act to seal off the joint therebetween aswellas to reinforce each other and prevent undue'dis'tortion thereof. Y

Whenever it is desirable or necessary to with- P draw the rods I5 fromthe tubing I2, the nipple I0 is screw-threaded into the uppermostcoupling collar I3 of said tubing immediately prior to such Iwithdrawal; The rods are thenpulled'upwardly through the bore20 of thecollar I8, whereby an excessive amount of oil or other liquid clingingto said .rods will be stripped or wiped therefrom This removed oilor'liquid will, of course, flow downwardly into the tubing. "Whena jointor coupling collar 25 of the rods is encountered, the resiliency of thecollar I8 will permit the inner portion of thesame to flex upwardly'asshown in Figure 2; After the joint has passed through the disk, it isobvious that the same will revert to its original position (Figure 1).However; there will [be a slight upward flexing of the disk whenever therods are moved upwardly due to the small diameter of the borelil; j I

Since the-nipple I0 and stripping element I811 the collar, especiallywhen the same is engaged by one of the couplings 25, or otherenlargements, of. the rods I5. It is manifest that substantially thesame result could be obtainedby the formation of radial channels orrecesses 24 in the upper and lower faces ofthe collar (Figure 6). Al'-though neither the grooves 23'nor the channels 24 are essential, bothare desirable since they do not materially weaken the stripping element.

As shown in Figure '7, a plurality of stripping elements may. be mountedwithin the bore of a nipple in spaced 'superirnposed relation. Eachelementconsists of a pair of semi circular segments 26 which havearcuatelips"2 I',*similar to the lips Iihformed on their up'pera'ndlower surfaces. Instead of being inclinedor bevelled", the end surfacesmay be vertical so as to terminate substantially flush with. the edgesof the nipple sections H; For sealingth'e joint between the adjacentsurfaces of abutting segments, one end surface of each-segment isprovided with a longitudinally-extending tongue 28,;while a com?"plementary groove or recess 29 is ;formed in'the other end surface. Whenthe sections I! of the nipple are brought togetherin operating position,the tongues of the segments will engage within the groovesthereof' andco-actfto seal the joint therebetw'een. The-tongue and groove'conneceHons will'also e t-to Pr v iwnd distortion of the segments in thesamemanner as'the bevelled or inclined surfaces of the segments I8. Inmolding-the segmentsit, the sealing lips'or projections- 2| are formedon the vertical edges of the sections I? of therlipple, as has beenhereinbefore described; 1

' A modified form'of stripper-is shown-in Figures '8 to 11 andincludes-a cylindrical housing areasing 38 having a de ziending, reducedshank -3I which is adapted to be screw threaded into the coupling collarI3. The central or intermediate portion of the housing 30 is enlargedto-pro'vi'de an annular recess orgroove'32. within the bore 33 thereof,while the upper end ofsaid housing is curved inwardly, upwardly. and.then outwardly so as to form afiaredcollaryor top 33a. The housing ispreferably composedjofa pair of com-I plementarysemi-cylindricalsections or, halves 34 having radiallyprojecting lugs orears 35, which co-act with pins 36lto provide hinges for fastening thesections together; H

The stripping element of this stripperflis f ormed of an annular disk orcollar 3i, similar to the disk I8 a, having integral annular lips 38 ana'xial bore 39 which aresubstantially idestical to the lips. I9 and bore2Q ofsaiddiskIBa.

The disk 31 is of an external. diameter greater than the disk sea and asitsiouter periph eral surface bonded, molded or otherwise secured, tothe inner periphery of a metallic supporting'col substituted in itsplace.

lar or ring 40, whereby the stripping element may be supported withinthe recess 32 of the housing. In order to facilitate the insertion andremoval of the stripping element from around the sucker rods 15, thedisk and ring are split at an incline from a vertical plane, asindicated by the numerals 4| and 42, respectively. Thus,

the free ends of the disk and ring may be readily separated or sprungapart so as to engage the stripping element around the rods I 5.

When the stripping element is disposed within' the recess 32 of the bore33 of the housing, the central portion of its joint is preferably alinedwith one of the joints of said housing as shown in Figures 9 and to. Forholding the stripping element fixed inthis position, diametrically-opbereadily removed at any time, irrespective of whether the well rods areextending therethrough.

This is made possible by the splitting of the strip-- ping element andthe fastening of the same to the sections of the housing. Of course, bysplitting the element diagonally, the leakage of oil or, other liquid isreduced to a minimum. Since the element is removably confined within theposed screw-threaded openings 43 are formed in the ring. Suitable studbolts or screws 44, which extend through openings 45 in the housingwall, engage within the openings 43 so as to prevent rotative movementof the stripper element within the housing. Therefore, whenever thesections of thehousing are swung apart, the free endsof the strippingelement will be moved away from each other and thereby permitthehousing, it is relatively simple to replace the same. i V

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious change in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, with in, the scopeof the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v l. A strippingdevice for a well rod including,

a housing composed of semi-cylindrical sections,

, and flexible means bonded to the internal wall removal of the entirestripper while the rods are extending therethrough. For preventingleak-.

age of the housing Joints, vertical packing members or strips 46, ofsuitable materiaLare interposed between the abutting faces of the shanksof the housing sections 34 as shown in Figure 11. The packing membersmay be mounted in any suitable manner, but it is preferable to disposeof one of the adjacent faces of each section 34. As shown in Figure8,each recess 4! extends from the intermediate portion of the shank of itssection to the recess 32 and follows the contour of said shank.

In operation, the housing 30 of the stripper is attached to theuppermost coupling collar l3 of the well tubing. The sucker rods l5 arethen pulled upwardly through the bore 33 of the disk 31 in the usualmanner, whereby the excess oils or other liquid clinging to said rodswill be wiped therefrom. In order to replace the stripping of eachsection and co-acting with each other for engaging and surrounding therod, the flexible .means projecting beyond the internal wall of itssection and being bonded to the vertical edges thereof so as to providea sealing means between a the edges of the sections when the same areplaced together.

2. A stripping device for a well rod including,

.ahousing composed of semi-cylindrical sections,

an arcuate yieldable member confined within each housing section to forma collar for engaging and surrounding the rod, the collar having aplurality of recesses in its upper and lower surfaces for increasing theflexibilitythereof to facilitate passage of enlargements on said rod,and arcuate lips formed on the upper and lower surfaces of 7 eachelement at the external peripheral portion element, it is necessary todisconnect the shank 3| of the housing from the collar l3 and thendisengage the bolts 44 from the ring40 of said housing. By removing oneof the pins 36, the

sections 34 may be swung apart and the strip ping element lifted fromthe same and another If it is necessary or desirable to replacethestripper, element while the rods are extending iihrough the bore of thestripper, the housing shank is disconnected from the collar 13 inthesame manner. The sections of the housing are thereof so as to provideanamplified bonding surface, each element projecting beyond the interiorof its section so as to overlie the vertical edges thereof, whereby aseal between the edges q of the sections is provided when said sectionsare I placed together.

3. A stripping device for a well rod including, a pair of substantiallysemi-circular sections adapted to fit together to form an annularhousing, a substantially semi-circular stripping element constructed ofa resilient material bonded v to the inner surface of each section, thematerial of which the element is formed also being bonded to thevertical edges of its section, whereby when the sections are placedtogether the material between the abutting vertical sections provides apacking or sealing means therebetween,

the semi-circular stripping elements, co-acting then swung apart, suchswinging being permitted bythe removal of the pin 36 which isimmediately adjacent the joint or split of the stripping element. Sincethe ring 40 is connected to both of the sections 34, the strippingelement will be swung apart by the outward movement of said;

sections to permit the passage of the rods through the joint of saidelement. The bolts 44 are then disengaged from the ring 40 and theelement removed from the housing. After another stripping element hasbeen positioned within the housing, the sections are again swung apartand the element spread for the reception of the rods. The

sections are then fastened together by the pin 36 and the housing shankis screw-threaded into the collar l3, whereby stripping of the rods maybe continued. p

, It is manifest that the stripping element may with eachtother to forman annular stripping member.

4. A strippingdevice for a well rod including,

a housing adapted to be removably connected to the upper end of a welltubing and composed of semi-cylindrical sections, a semi-circularresilient element having its external surface bonded to the inner wallof each section and co-acting with each other for engaging andsurrounding the rod, the ends of each element being inclined in opposite7 directions and being complementary to the ends

